CROYDON IN CRISIS: Valued workers based in George Street look set to pay with their jobs so that Mayor Perry can dodge criticism.
EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES
Mayor Perry and the council decided to change provider of statutory carers’ support services, from local charity the Whitgift Foundation to an out-of-borough commercial company, Carers First. Without the council contract, the Foundation could no longer afford to manage the Carers’ Centre, where they employed around nine staff.
The centre has been helping hard-pressed families in the borough for more than a decade. It was due to close on March 14, after Croydon Council opted to break provision for carers into three parts, with adult carers’ assessments now to be provided by Carers First.
When the news of the closure of the Carers’ Centre first leaked out – and was reported exclusively by Inside Croydon – the council issued assurances that there would be no job losses and that Croydon-based staff would be “TUPE’d over”, from the Whitgift Foundation to the pay-roll of Kent-based Carers’ First.
TUPE-ing is a common practice in the public sector: TUPE stands for “Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)”, which is supposed to protect employees when a business changes ownership or a service provider changes.
Uncertain future: the Carers’ Centre on George Street has been given a reprieve, though no one is certain for how long
Carers’ First business usually sees the company operate an admin office in the boroughs where they have landed contracts, while carers in need of assistance are expected to phone a call centre in Swindon or visit the Carers First website.
Carers who use the Croydon centre on a regular basis raised a petition which in a matter of a few days attracted more than 2,500 signatures opposing the closure. The strength of feeling behind the petition, as well as his being confronted on Katharine Street by a deputation of angry carers, saw the Tory Mayor forced into his rapid volte face.
Carers First suddenly agreed to continue operating the Carers’ Centre, something which was never in their bid when the council ran its procurement process.
Perry, who is paid £84,000 per year as Croydon Mayor, has tried to claim that the switch of provider is not about saving his cash-strapped council money, although it is established that Carers First under-bid the Whitgift Foundation.
“It’s pretty obvious that Perry or the council must have leant on Carers First about keeping the centre open, to take some of the heat off the Mayor,” one carer told Inside Croydon today.
“Now, some of the hard-working staff at the centre look like they will pay for that move with their jobs.
“And who knows how long Carers First will continue to keep the Carers’ Centre open? Perry has provided no guarantees. They might close the place after a few months, once the storm around Perry has died down a bit. The council’s cynicism in all this is utterly shameful.”
The staff received a letter earlier this week that advised them of the possibility of an impending redundancy process, which would commence once Carers First take over the service on April 1. The reason has been given as “due to financial sustainability within the contract price”.
Greedy: workers at the Carers’ Centre could pay with their jobs so that cake-loving Jason Perry dodges some criticism
Inside Croydon understands that some of the workers who could lose their jobs would be left without any redundancy settlement from Carers First because they have been in their jobs for less than two years.
And according to other sources on George Street, what is supposed to be a transfer process that usually lasts three months has been compressed into six weeks because of delays at Croydon Council in handling the change of service provider.
The council’s decision, and the consequential closure of the Carers’ Centre, only became known on February 12. Carers First are supposed to take over the contract for adult carer assessments and health support on April 1.
Visitors to the Carers’ Centre yesterday and today say that the staff there are in a state of shock. “They’re devastated,” one said. “They liked working for the John Whitgift Foundation. They didn’t want to be transfered to Carers First. And they certainly don’t want to lose their jobs.”
One of the carers who visited the centre yesterday told Inside Croydon, “The staff have now been told that once they transfer to Carers First, a restructure and consultation will take place straight away and redundancies will occur.”
The source said that staff have been told that it was never in Carers First’s plan to operate the George Street site.
“The Mayor’s chosen providers have inadvertently outed him as a liar,” the source said.
“To dispose of staff when the service is already so busy is shocking and unfair, and it will affect carer services.” The carers have been told that Carers First do not intend to have the centre open throughout the week, as is currently the case.
“The truth is, the council probably do not care that the new service will be substandard, as long as boxes are ticked.”
In a formula, corporate statement issued by Carers First, they said: “Carers First is committed to delivering high-quality support for carers in Croydon. Our focus is on ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining essential services for carers.
“While there will be some changes to how services are structured, our priority is to provide effective, personalised support. We are engaging with carers to shape the services we offer and welcome their feedback.”
Carers First execs are expected at George Street on Monday morning to meet some of the carers from whom they are inviting feedback. A large turnout is anticipated. And next Wednesday at noon, the Carers’ Centre Choir will be outside, singing on George Street as part of the on-going protest over the service changes, and now the unfair redundancies.
Croydon Council’s carers’ services are due for an inspection by the Care Quality Commission imminently. The CQC’s findings about the disrupted service could prove very instructive indeed.
Read more: Perry confronted outside Town Hall over Carers’ Centre closure
Read more: ‘Council is gas-lighting us over support services’ say carers
Read more: Council Tax hits £2,500 per year as debts continue to mount
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